Many years ago, the NCAA implemented the concept of the “play-in” game for its men’s basketball tournament.

The NCAA has expanded it in recent years to include four teams. Subsequently, it has been billed as the “First Four.”

For Michigan State, reality has been its first two games of the NCAA tournament are its play-in games. The NCAA tournament really begins for the Spartans in the Sweet 16.

It is playing out that way again this season.

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The Spartans systematically destroyed Memphis in the Round of 32 Saturday at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The final score: 70-48. It was just a 3-point game at halftime. Yet, it never seemed like the Spartans were not in control.

All the staples of the Spartans’ diet were included in Saturday’s recipe. They pounded the boards unrelentingly. The Spartans outrebounded Memphis 49-29. State’s defense was superior. Memphis was squeezed in the second half, scoring just 19 points.

If you play word association with a college basketball fan and mention Memphis, the first response is “athletic.”

Yes, the Tigers are athletic. But the Spartans are more athletic. And bigger…and more physical…and battle-tested in a basketball sense. Certainly, MSU is better coached.

“I told those three they have to play well because they are closest thing we have to what they have,” Izzo said.

You see player go from good to great during the NCAA tournament. There are two players who are rising above the others for the Spartans. One is Harris.

For all the hysteria over Michigan freshman Mitch McGary’s performance Saturday on the same floor, Harris scored 23 points. He had 16 in the first half. Only foul trouble slowed him down.

He is easily the best freshman in the Big Ten, and ranks with Indiana’s Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller as the conference’s top NBA prospects.

“It probably would have been easier if we had been able to keep Harris on the floor,” MSU coach Tom Izzo said. “We did a helluva job defensively in about a 12-minute stretch, and for some reason we rebounded very well.”

Junior forward Adreian Payne was the best overall athlete on the floor. He is 6-10, can run the floor, jump out of the gym, has long arms and is an excellent outside shooter. He had 14 points and 10 rebounds.

“He’s a pro,” Memphis coach Josh Pastner said. “I mean, he’s really good. If he plays like that every night, they are going to the Final Four.”

If there was any drama for the Spartans, it came in the huddle when big man Derrick Nix threw a towel at his former high school teammate at Detroit Pershing, point guard Keith Appling.

Izzo actually likes those type of things - he feels it shows leadership. It’s not like Nix and Appling aren’t close.

“I need players to get on players sometimes,” Izzo said. “Nix doesn’t know exactly how. It was fun. Players were more vocal today.”

The Spartans are not going through an easy bracket to the Final Four. They could easily see Duke in the next round. Louisville in the Elite Eight. Izzo’s teams have beaten Duke just one time. Louisville decisively knocked the Spartans out of the NCAA tournament last year in the Sweet 16. If there is a concern, it is with point guard play. Appling has been inconsistent, his backup Travis Trice underwhelming. Michigan State had 18 turnovers Saturday. Against better teams, it will kill their NCAA title hopes.

“The better the teams we play, the less mistakes we have to make,”

Izzo said.

But so far so good. The Spartans passed their preliminary exam at The Palace with flying colors.

Nothing unusual there.

Pat Caputo is a senior sports reporter and a columnist for Journal Register Newspapers. Contact him at pat.caputo@oakpress.com and read his blog at theoaklandpress.com. You can follow him on Twitter @patcaputo98